dokan-dev/dokany

Free

User mode file system library for windows with FUSE Wrapper

FreeFree tier

Type

Open Source

Visit Website GitHub (38 stars)

About dokan-dev/dokany

Dokany is a user-mode file system library for Windows, enabling developers to create custom file systems without writing kernel-mode device drivers. It is a maintained fork of Dokan 0.6.0, incorporating bug fixes, clean change history, and updates to build with the latest tools. Dokany includes a FUSE wrapper, allowing FUSE-based file systems to be ported to Windows with minimal changes. The library consists of a user-mode DLL (dokan2.dll) and a kernel-mode driver (dokan2.sys). It supports Windows 7 SP1 through Windows 11 and Windows Server 2008 R2 through 2022, on x86, x64, ARM, and ARM64 platforms. Licensing is mixed LGPL and MIT. Version 2.0+ offers significant performance improvements over 1.5.x, particularly in concurrent operations.

Key Features

User-mode file system creation without kernel driver development

FUSE wrapper for porting Linux FUSE filesystems to Windows

Supports Windows 7 SP1 to Windows 11 and Windows Server 2008 R2 to 2022

Multi-architecture support: x86, x64, ARM, ARM64

Includes user-mode DLL and kernel-mode driver

Licensed under LGPL (library/driver) and MIT (samples)

Performance improvements in v2.0+ with better threading and memory pool

Dokany is a maintained fork of Dokan 0.6.0 with bug fixes and updated build tools

Pros & Cons

Pros

Simplifies custom file system development by avoiding kernel driver complexity
FUSE compatibility enables easy migration from Linux file systems
Free and open source with permissive licensing
Actively maintained fork with bug fixes and modern build support
Supports a wide range of Windows versions and architectures

Cons

Windows-only, no native support for other operating systems
API has changed across major versions (0.8.0, 1.1.0, 2.0.0), requiring code updates
Requires installation of kernel driver, which may need signing on newer Windows versions

Best For

Creating virtual file systems (e.g., cloud storage sync, encrypted drives)Porting FUSE-based file systems to Windows without rewritingDeveloping custom file system applications for WindowsMounting remote or compressed archives as local drives

FAQ

What is Dokany?

Dokany is a user-mode file system library for Windows, similar to FUSE on Linux. It allows developers to create custom file systems without writing kernel-mode drivers. It is a maintained fork of Dokan 0.6.0 with bug fixes and updated build tools.

What Windows versions are supported?

Dokany supports Windows 7 SP1, 8, 8.1, 10, 11, and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, 2012 (R2), 2016, 2019, 2022.

Is Dokany free to use?

Yes, Dokany is free and open source. The user-mode library and driver are licensed under LGPL, while the sample programs are under MIT.

How does Dokany compare to FUSE?

Dokany provides similar functionality to FUSE but for Windows. It includes a FUSE wrapper that allows FUSE file systems to be ported to Windows with minimal or no changes.

Does Dokany support ARM processors?

Yes, Dokany supports x86, x64, ARM, and ARM64 platforms.